A power increase is never bad news, but when it comes to high-performance sports cars, one may expect more than just…5 horsepower. That’s what buyers of the 2015 Dodge Viper are going to get, with the 8.4-liter V10 engine to produce 645hp instead of the current output of 640 hp.
The news about the extra power comes from Road & Track through the SAE J1349 certification database, which is an opt-in test for manufacturers to get engine output certified. Chrysler, Ford and GM are currently the only automakers to use the test. While output increases by 5 horsepower, torque remains the same at 600 lb-ft (812 Nm).
We don’t know how (or rather if) the power increase will change the Viper’s performance, but one thing is certain: Dodge’s flagship model won’t be as powerful as the 650hp Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Still, it may prove to be lighter, as its power-to-weight ratio will be improved by 0.8 percent for 2015.
The SAE certification doesn’t say how Dodge got the extra power from the engine, but the safest bet is improved breathing and/or ECU.
By Dan Mihalascu
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